Kinross in the dark over costs increase

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The head of the Light up Kinross (LUK) group has voiced his concerns over the future of the town’s Christmas lights show as the council have nearly doubled the running cost.

The group have sent out an urgent appeal after the council increased their charges for erecting lights from £2790 last year to £4842 this year - a huge 44 per cent increase.

The appeal aims to raise around £2000 by the middle of November and the news of the increase came as a shock to vice-chairman David Colliar.

David (75) said: “It’s really been a huge disappointment to us.

“We just don’t have that much money ourselves.

“We were astounded that it would come to this.

“The next few years will be difficult for us.

“If it keeps increasing like this we will struggle to keep up with the payments.

“The first light show was in 1999 for the millennium and we want to keep that going.”

The lights are scheduled to light up the festive period from Saturday, November 24.

David said: “There has been a slow response to the appeal because I think not enough people know about it.

“We will hopefully get more from online as we have a donate button set up on the Facebook page.

“The plan is if we don’t have enough money we will see the lights display reduced.

“We have put the feelers out for grants from people and have asked for the help of the Bank of Scotland.

“They have a funding foundation but I am not sure if we qualify for that.

“We urgently appeal for support and donations from the local community to complete this year’s project.”

LUK was established in 1999 and in 2017 it was granted charitable status.

A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “We appreciate that the estimate is higher than that in previous years.

“However, as in previous years, only the direct costs from the contractor will be charged.

“Other services will be provided by the council at no cost such as decorating trees, assisting with the installation of the fountain and ensuring a successful switch-on.

“This will enable the erection of the lights to be carried out at minimal cost to the community and on a par with the charges made in previous years.

“The estimated sum of £4842 is based on Perth and Kinross Council’s contractor carrying out the full installation and includes the cost of installing eight more lights than last year. The quote covers every eventuality so that if there are any problems with fitting the decorations the estimate won’t be exceeded.”

Anyone who wants to donate to the apperal can go to www.facebook.com/lightupkinross or call 01577 864037 for their donation to be collected.